Thomas Chen would like to be an ambassador to Canada. Instead, he's a "representative," not of an embassy but of an "economic and cultural office." That's because Mr. Chen represents Taiwan in Canada.
Mr. Chen has a frustrating job. Federal ministers won't see him officially. Nor will provincial premiers. Nor will deputy ministers. He can get access to foreign affairs officers up to a certain rank, but no higher.
When Taiwan's justice minister came to Ottawa recently, Mr. Chen got him before the Commons justice committee. He had important things to say about various issues, including those related to people wanted for crimes in Taiwan, but living in Canada. After all, Canada and Taiwan do a lot of business, send many people back and forth, and have dual nationals living in both countries.
Neither China nor Foreign Affairs was amused. The justice committee is part of Canada's political system. And under the terms of our relations with Taiwan, political links are supposed to be verboten.
A long time ago, when prime minister Pierre Trudeau officially recognized "Red China," there was this little matter of Taiwan. The Chinese claimed then — and still insist — that Taiwan is a breakaway part of China. The losers in China's civil war fled there, set up shop, created a dictatorship, and breathed fire at Beijing, all the while claiming to be the sole, legitimate representatives of the Chinese people.
Canada, when establishing diplomatic relations with Beijing, officially "took note" of the situation. Canada would have no diplomatic (political) relations with Taiwan, but could continue other contacts. And so Taiwan within Canada, as in so many other countries, lives in a diplomatic never-never land.
The irony of Mr. Chen's life is that he lived in Canada for decades — in exile and protest against the authoritarian government in Taipei. He taught law at universities, mostly at Queen's, and obtained Canadian citizenship.
When Taiwan embraced democracy, Mr. Chen went home. He wasn't there long, however, before the new government looked around, asked who knew Canada, and invited Mr. Chen to return, this time to Ottawa as Taiwan's "representative."
Taiwan's young democracy bothers China. Democracy isn't a system the Chinese leadership wants for China, and they don't like how it's unfolding in Taiwan.
Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian has been instilling in his people a sense of being Taiwanese, not some people waiting to resume control in Beijing, the pretense of the previous dictatorship. He's running for re-election in the March presidential election, promising a new constitution and a law authorizing referendums that could conceivably be used one day for citizens to vote for Taiwanese independence. That promise is apparently proving popular. The President has moved slightly ahead in the polls, and the Chinese don't like that development one bit. Yesterday, but not for the first time, China rattled sabres, threatening force if Taiwan moved toward a declaration of independence. Said Wang Zaixi, the top Chinese official who deals with Taiwan, "If the Taiwan authorities collude with (separatist) forces to openly engage in pro-independence activities and challenge the mainland and the one-China principle, the use of force may become unavoidable."
Canada's position in this dispute is pure realpolitik. Canada ought, in theory, to be supportive of Taiwan. Taiwan is democratic; China is not. Taiwan respects human rights; China does not in all instances. According to Transparency International, Taiwan's corruption ranking is much better than China's. In per capita terms, Canada does more trade with Taiwan than China. But the Chrétien government swoons over that huge Chinese market. Mr. Chrétien has made six trips to China as Prime Minister. On Dec. 11, the day before he hands over power to Paul Martin, Mr. Chrétien will welcome China's Premier in Ottawa. Mr. Martin will meet him later. Mr. Martin, addressing the Liberal convention, underlined China's increasing role in world affairs. He might question some elements of Canadian foreign policy. The status of Taiwan won't be among them. China is just too massive, alluring and important.
Needless to say, Mr. Chen won't be invited to any of the public ceremonies surrounding the Chinese Premier's visit. He'll remain in the shadows, just as Taiwan does in official Ottawa. Official shadows do not stop Mr. Chen and his team from trying to build support for Taiwan. Ottawa radio stations feature advertisements about Taiwan. A Canada-Taiwan parliamentary group exists. Taiwan pays for Canadian MPs to visit. Taiwan's cultural office eagerly promotes the country and its language.
Only 22 countries have diplomatic relations with Taiwan. They are mostly small African and Asian states. For all Mr. Chen's efforts, Canada won't be joining the group any time soon.
